Automatic musical instrument.



E. M. SKINNER. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, IBIS.

l ,1 92,005. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. M. SKINNER.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28| I9I5. 1,1 92,005. Patented July 25, 1916.

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E. M. SKINNER.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, I9I5. 1,192,005, PaIenIefIJuIy25, 1916.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

s W4@ A E. M. SKINNER.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAI/28,19I5.

1,1 92,005. Iatented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

EK M. SKINNER.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILEDMAYZB, 1915.

1,1 92,005. Patented July 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST M. SKINNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed May 28, 1915.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST M. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to automatic musical instruments and more particularly to those instruments which comprise a plurality of groups of sounding devices, such for example as a pipe organ.

One of the objects of the invention is to secure the same musical eflcct as is produced by the several instruments of an orchestra. Ordinarily in an orchestra, each instrument produces a succession of single notes, and, to produce a chord, several instruments must be caused to speak simultaneously. For instance, to produce a chord of the key of c, the lower c may be sounded by a French horn, the c above by a clarinet, the g by an oboe, and the c above by a flute. Thus there is secured an independence of voices, which is not possible in an instrument operated by a single key board; for example, in a pipe organ, if the Hute stop be drawn, all of the notes of the chord will sound a flute tone, and the same is true of any other stop. Hence one of the results which I desire to achieve by my invention is the independence of voices in a pipe organ, or other instrument containing groups of sounding devices, so that chords may be sounded in which each of the several notes is produced by the pipe or sounding device ot' only one of the different groups, and thus secure the effect of different instruments of an orchestra. Here- 4toiliore this has been p actically impossible, in an automatic instrument, because of the great width of the tracker board and the .note sheet or selector. For example, to control the sounding devices of a chromatic scale of three octaves, a tracker board heretofore had to have thirty-six air chiots or other equivalent means for controlling the sounding devices, and the music sheet or selector had to be correspondingly Wide. Hence, in a pipe organ having, for instance, only four stops, or four groups of pipes, to permit the formation of a chord comprising a single note from each group of pipes, the tracker board had necessarily to have one Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 30,942.

hundred and forty four ducts. Therefore 1n any organ or like collection of sounding devices such as would ordinarily be employed, the tracker board and the selector or music sheet had to be of such great width as to render their use practically prohibitive.

A second object of my invention is to provide such a combination and arrangement of devices controlled by the note sheet or selector, that a tracker board which is relatively narrow may be used for a relatively large number of groups of sounding devices, and at the same time the independence of voices of the several groups to which I have made reference is secured.

I am able to secure the desired results by employing a tracker board having ducts or equivalent devices for operating note controllers no greater in number than the twelve tones of a chromatic scale of one octave, and additional controllers for selecting Jfor operation any one of several octaves in which the desired tone is to be produced. In this way, for a group of sounding devices for producing the chromatic tones of three octaves, the tracker board would have a group of twelve ducts controlling twelve note controllers, and in addition a second group of three ducts for selectively controlling the three second-mentioned controllers` The thirty-six tones can thus be produced, in sequence if desired, in the three octaves by operating the three second-mentioned controllers one after the other, so as to select for operation the neXt higher octave on the completion of each. Hence a narrow tracker board having only viifteen ducts or their equivalents Will control a group oi thirtysix pipes or other sounding device. For the twelve sounding devices for each additional octave, there will be added to the ducts in the tracker board only one duct for controlling an additional controller.

I preferably emplov a group of note con-.

trollers and additional controllers for each complete group of sounding devices, and so arrange the connections that each of said groups of controllers can control each group of sounding devices, through the medium of suitable draw switches which may, if desired, be under manual control, in consequence of which an operator or player 'can produce any desired tone` color and render any composition according to his own interpretation. This is all rendered possible beause of the small space in a tracker' board necessary to control an entire group of sounding devices.

third object ot the invention, however, is to provide for the automatic control of the several draw switches b v the selector or note sheet, without materially increasing the width of the sheet and tracker board. To this end, I provide a novel arrangement ot parts, in consequence ot which, by the use ot a selector-controlled controller supw plemental to those heretofore mentioned, one oit the groups of note controllers may be utilized for causing the operation el' a large number of draw switches, or combinations ot draw switches, so as to condition the various groups of sounding devices :tor operation. That is, a group ot note controllers, which used tor causing the several sounding devices of a sub-group to speak, may also be utilized for causing the operaw tion oi the draw switches, b v the operation o'll a selector-controlled controller. In this way, the width el the selector or music sheet is reduced to a minimum. For example, in an instrument possessing twelve groups of sounding devices, each having three octa ves, I am able, with a tracker board having but sixteen ducts and a selector of corresponding narrow width, to select for operation any one or more of said groups ot sounding devices, and to cause the production oli .sound from each of the thirtysix devices ot each group so selected. And, even when the tracker board has several sections, each section having a series of primary ducts, and additional ducts, but one supplemental duct in the entire board is necessary in order to control all the stops.

On the drawiugs-Figure 1 represents, mmventionally and diagrammatically, a portion of' a pipe organ embodying my invention in its simple form. Fig. 2 illustrates, conventionally and diagrammatically, a pipe organ embodying` the invention and having tour groups oit sounding devices and draw switches therefor. Fig. 3 represents, conventionally and diagralnlnatically, a pipe organ embodying` the invention, in which I am able to cause the independent operation ot four groups of sounding devices. Figs. l and 5 illustrate portions ot the drawswiteh operating mechanisms. Figs. G and 'i illustrate more or less conventionally and dia grammatically the draw-switch operating mechanism. which may be employed in the instrument shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. S illustratesI a portion ot a selector or music sheet.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the. particular embodiment which I have illustrated and shall subsequently describe. nor to any particular groups el" sounding devices, nor to the particular mechanism by which they are caused to produce their respective tones, nor to any particular system ot' control, c., pneumatic,

electrical or mechanical, as persons skilled et the invention, and reference may there- P fore be had to Figs. 1 and 3. In these ligures, which represent a portion ot a pipe organ, lO indicates a tracker board which, i'l the note controllers are pneumatic-ally operated, is provided with twelve ducts, "lil equal in number to the tones oi a chromatic scale from c to l), as indicated by these characters on the drawings. Each duct 1l is connected to and controls a pneumatic note controller 12, to close a. branch electric l? circuit by which some corresponding sounding device will be conditioned tor operation or faused to speak or sound. rFliese branch circuits are indicated in part at 13 and receive energy from a main circuit 59 which has the generator 59. The entire group A oii sounding devices comprises pipes turned to furnish the tones of a. chromatic scale ot three consecutive octaves, and is divided into sub-groups A B C, one `tor the sounding devices ot each octave. Each of the corresponding pipes oit the sub-groups, say those ior producing cit', may be caused to speak by the registration of an aperture in the note sheet with the corresponding duct 1r-1- in lf the tracker board. To accomplish this, I employ three additional pneumatic controllers A B C respectively to operate switch bars 1l, 15, 16, of any suitable form, said controllers being operated by the opening ol" the l ducts A2 B2 C2 in the tracker board 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The switch bar 1l. is shown conventionally as carryii'ig a series ot contacts 1T respectively connected by conductors 1S with the electromagnetic valve` l 3 controllers 211 of the pipes ot the sub-group A; switch bar 15 is suitably equipped with contacts 19 connected by conductors 2l) with the controllers for the pipes of sub-group B; and switch bar 1G has like contacts Q1 conl nected by conductors 2Q with the valve controllers 'for the pipes of sub-group C. All said contacts on each of the switch bars may be electrically connected with the respective branch circuits 13 upon movement of the 133 said bar to the left to close the branch circuits through the respective pipe controllers and thus condition the pipes to speak. As shown in the diagram in Fig. 2, the bar 15 has been actuated by controller B', and hence, upon the actuation of any one of the note controllers 12, the corresponding pipe of sub-group B will speak to produce a tone in the middle octave. After operating said note controllers the controller C (for instance) may be actuated, and controller B released., and thereupon, on reoperating the note controllers, the sub-group C of the pipes may be caused to speak and produce the tones of the high octave. I preferably employ that ltype of additional controller, which, on being actuated, remains locked in position until another of the group is operated and is then released; and to this end I have conventionally illustrated a spring-tensioned locking bar 23 having holes through which pins 24 on the switch bars pass. These pins have tapering enlargements 25 which will lift the bar 23 when one of the switch bars is moved to the left, so as to release the previously locked switch bar, after which the bar 23 will drop to lock the switch bar thus moved to active or operative position. On being released, the switch bars may be moved to inactive position by springs 2G. In lieu of this conventional mechanism, any other suitable means may be provided for locking and releasing the switch bars. I may, if desired, however, employ controllers that remain in active or operative position only so long as a perforation registers with the corresponding duct of the tracker board.

Preferably each entire group of pipes is controlled by what I may term a draw switch, which may be of any suitable type such as conventionally illustrated at 27, so that the pipes will remain mute unless the switch has been moved either manually or automatically to operative position. In the diagram, the draw switch 27 has contacts 31 which complete the branch circuits 13, 18, 13, 20, and 13, 22 through the pipe controllers 21 hy the branch circuits From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the three sub-groups A, B and C of the entire group A3 of pipes or sounding devices are controlled by a series of note controllers which in number do not exceed the pipes of a single sub-group, and that, by the aid of the additional controllers A, B, C', any sub-group may be selected for operation, thereby reducing to a minimum the number of ducts for the controllers, the width of tracker board and the note sheet or selector which coperates therewith.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the mechanism by which the draw switches may be automatically operated under the control of the selector or note sheet by the addition of a supplemental controller and a duct or its equivalent in the tracker board. In Fig. 2, I have shown conventionally four draw switches, to wit: that at 27 previously referred to, and three additional draw switches 28, 29 and 30. I have also indicated four groups of sounding devices A3, D, E and F, (only one sounding device of each group being shown, for simplicity of illustration) each preferably consisting in practice of three sub-groups of pipes or their equivalents for producing the tones of a chromatic scale of three octaves, such as shown in Fig. 1. Corresponding branch circuits 33, 34 and 35 (similar to those at 32) include the contacts of the draw switches 30, 31 and 32, and the electromagnetic valve-controllers of the groups D, E and F of sounding devices. Hence the branch circuits 32, 33, 34 and may be closed, or conditioned for the transmission of the electric current, by moving their respective switches to the left, and, after this has been done, the various sounding devices will speak according to the operation of the primary and additional controllers on the registration of the perforations in the selector or music sheet with the ducts in the tracker board.

For operating the draw switches automatically, I provide a switch bar 36,. shown as located. in proximity to those at 14, 15, 1G and operated by a pneumatic 37 connected by a duct 371 with a duct 372 in the tracker board. Said switch bar is shown conventionally as carrying contacts 38, equal in number to the groups of sounding devices, and. these contacts 38 may be moved into electrical connection with contacts in the circuits 13, through electromagnetic controllers 40 which cause or control the operation of the draw switches by any suitable mechanism. In Fig. 2 only four groups of soundingdevices are illustrated, but a sufficient number .of contacts 38 is shown to control twelve of such groups. The branch circuits 39 are connected with the main circuit 59 by the return conductor 139. On the energization of any one of the controllers 40., a valve will be opened to permit the passage of air from the trunk 41 to operate a corresponding pneumatic 42, which, through intervening mechanism to be explained, actuates one or more of the draw switches. stops is provided with a plurality of jacks 43, each pivoted midway between its ends, and these are arranged in rows, which equal in number the tertiary controllers 40. These jacks may be tilted or set, by mechanism subsequently to be described, so as to be in position to be engaged by actuating mechanism operated by the pneumatics 42. This actuating mechanism may be of the usual character and as shown consists of a series of to close branch circuits 39 Each of the draw A pairs ot hars or :tans il, 115, which extend hcneath the draw switches in proximity to the jacks, as shown in Figs. -l and 5. The fans are carried hy hell crank levers i6, '-LT, the shorter approximately horizontal arms ot' which extend toward each other, and are engaged h v adjustahle nuts t8 on rods lf). Vlilach rod itil is shown as pivoted to a lever 50, which in turn is connected h v a rod or link l to the movahle portion ot one ot the pneiiniatics l2. According to the position oiE the jaclis on the series ofi draw switches. upon the operation o't one oit the pneinnatics, the switches will lie iiioved into or ont ofi active or operative position, hy the engagement oit the fans li or -fli with the jacks. Each jack may he tilted or set so that one end or the other will extend into the path oit movement oif' one ot the fans if, l5, as will he el arly understood :troni an inspection ot Fig. ;l-. its there shown, the draw switch 2T is supposed to he in inactive position, and the middle jack is tilted so that its right end extends into the path o'l movement of the 'tan -l--l ofi the middle pair oli hars. Now, upon the actuation ot the corresponding pneumatic -f-, the Yfiaiis 4f, 45, will he .'wung toward xach other and the draw switch will he inoved to the lett or to acti vc position, so as to condition tor operation the groui'i Af* ot si'iunding devices. rl`he several jacks on the draw switches are set in position at the will ot the oper; tor according to any predeteriiiined plan, and, zitter having once heen sc, the draw switches will he nioved out and in antoniaticall)v under the control of the note sheet or selector. To accomplish the automatic operation ot the draw switclie, I niay einpio'v a plurality ot pneumatic, 52. operatively connected to a wind trunhY 5G Aind arranged over the draw switches and extending across theni, as shown in Figs. t and T. Each pneumatic extends across the draw switches and is arranged to tilt or set all ofE the incl-:s o'l one transverse row on the draw switches in one position or the other according to the positions. ont or in. ot said draw switches. ln order to set a jack on any certain draw switch in position. so that, when the corresponding pneuniatic l-'ly is operated the draw switch will he moved into active position, it is first necessary itor the operator iiiiinuallv to draw ont said switch,.

draw switch to inactive position, and then proceeds to set the jacks on such other draw switches as may he desired. Many difl'erent coinhinations ot the groups ot sounding devices may he etliected hy initially positioning the jacks on the draw lswitches, and this can lie done hy drawing out several switches concurrently and setting` the corresponding jacks thereon hy the operation of one et the associated pneuniatics rlhe lach-setting pneuniatics 52 may he controlled li Y any suitalile means adapted to lie actuated hy the operator. l have conventionally illustrated in Fig. T a pluri lit-y of hranch circuits 5.7, fach hraiich circuit including an electroinagnetically-operated valve 53 tor one ot the pneuinatics 52, and a circuit closer or push hutton The niain circuit, with which the liranch circuits are connected, is indicated at 57, and it may derive current t'rom circuit 5f? and the generator oil hy closing a switch 5S, therehy openingl the circuits 12%. The push huttons 5l niay he :rranged helow the l e v hoard of the organ, or on one side thcreo't, and they may he niunliered serially l, 2, Il, l. etc., aicording to the ci'irrespi'inding pneun'ialics, rows ot jacks, pack-actuatiiig liars, andthe associated pneumatics l2 and hiancli circuits 3U.

For simplicity oil' explanation, let it he assumed that the 'tour groups olf sounding devices A". l). lil and lf, indicated in Fig. 2, are pipes Ytor producing the tones ot the Frnch horn` the flute. the clarinet and the ohoe, respectively, The pcrtorated note sheet or selector f'or example, contains printed directions stating that, during the rendition ot' the musical composition, the tollowing coinhinations or arrangements ofE groups will he used in sequence z--fi rst. clarinet and olioe; second, flute; thi rd, VFrench horn; and fourth. French horn,

flute, clarinet and ohoe. 'llliereupoi'ithe player, having` moved the switch 5S to suppl v circuit 5T with current, draws ont draw switches Q9 and lfl. and presses the first push luitton so as to set the first iachs in such position that. when the first controller l2 is operated. said draw switches will he moved autoniaticalllto active position; atteil which said draw switches are returned manually to inactive position. 'l`hen f'or the flute, draw switch Qq is drawn out, and push hutten No. 2 is pressed to cause thc second liack on said draw switch to lu` set in active position, after which the said draw switch returned to inactive position. Draw switch Q7 is then manually nioved to active position and push huttoii No. 3 is closed to set the third jack on said vitch har, and, after the latter has heeiA returned to inactive position, draw switches 27, QS, 2f) and 30 are all drawn out and the fourth jacks thereon are all set when push button No. 4 is operated. The ksaid draw switches are then all returned to inactive position. The perforated selector' or note sheet has perforations to register with the duct 372 when the draw switches are to be actuated during the rendition of the com position. Hence, in the initial passage of the selector over the tracker board, a perforation registers with duct 372, and the pneumatic 37 moves switch bar 3G to the left into active position, and practically or almost simultaneously therewith a perforation registers with duct c in the tracker board, and thereupon, on the operation of the first note controller 12, circuit 13, 39 is closed to cause the operation of the first controller 42, whereupon the first pair of bars 44, 45 are operated and draw switches 29 and 30 are moved to active position, so that the oboe pipes F and clarinet pipes E are conditioned for operation. Then, upon the registration of a perforation in the music sheet or selector with duct A2, B2, or

(l2 in the tracker board, the corresponding switch bar 14, 15 or 1G is moved to active position, and switch bar 3G is released and returned to inactive position. Then, as the perforations register with the main group of note ducts in the tracker board, the several individual pipes of the selected groups are caused to speak. During the time that the groups of oboe and clarinet pipes are speaking, the switch bars 14, 15 and 16will be shifted back and forth by the controller-s A B C as the perforations in the music sheet register with the tracker board ducts A2 B2 C2, to select the sub-groups A, B and C for operation according to the octave of the notes to be sounded. On the completion of that portion of the composition which required the No. 1 combination of clarinet and oboe, a perforation in the selector or music sheet registers with tracker-board duct 372, and a perforation registers with duct @#r, whereupon the second controller 42 will operate the second pair of draw-switch-operating fans 44, 45. (lt will be understood that opening duct c# will not causethe corresponding pipe in any of the sub-groups to speak, since the circuits 18, 2() and 22 running` to said sub-groups are all opened by the switches 14, 15 and 1G.) The fan 45, in moving to the right, will return the draw switches 29 and 30 to inactive position, and the fan 44 will move draw switch 28 to active position to condition for operation the bank of flute pipes. Thereafter the operation of the note controllers 12 and the controllers A B C', as perfofations in the music sheet register therewith, will cause the speaking of the flute pipes in the group D. In like manner, when combination No. 3 is reached, perforations in the music sheet register with ducts 372 and (l in the tracker board, and the operation of the third controller 42 causes, through the third drawswitch operating mechanism, the return to inactive position of draw switch 28, and the movement to active position of draw switch 27, to condition the first bank or group A B C of French horn pipes for operation. Finally, when combination No. 4 is reached, and perforations register with tracker board ducts 372 and dit, the fourth controller 42 and draw-switch actuating mechanism are operated to move to active position all of the draw swit'ches so that thereafter all of the groups of pipes will respond, upon the actua tion or operation of the note controllers 12, as the particular octave, or sub-group of pipes, may be selected by the controllers A B C.

` Of course it will be understood that at any time the operator may move any one of the draw switches manually into and out of active or operative position, while the composition is being automatically rendered.

1n Fig. 8, I have illustrated a portion of a. selector or note sheet, which is indicated as a whole at 60. At the lower end, it contains the suggestions or directions as to the setting of the jacks on the several draw switches for the combinations to be effected during the travel of the sheet over the tracker board, thus,-No. 1 combination oboe and clarinet, No. 2 combination-flute, No. 3 combination-French horn, and No. 4 combination-French horn, iiute, oboe and clarinet. In following these directions, the operator' would perform the operations which I have already described. The perforations 61 on the sheet are for registration with the tracker board duct 372, and those at 62, 63, 64 and 65, which are in practically the same lines transversely therewith, are for registration with the note ducts 0 c# al d# in consequence' of which the draw switches are operated. The perforations at 66, 67, 68 are for registration with the ducts A2 B2 C2, as a result of which the associated controllers A B C are operated to select the sub-groups of pipes, and the perforations at 69 are for registration with the note ducts to cause the operation of the note controllers to cause the speaking of the individual pipes.

In the instrument which l. have thus far described, when two or more draw switches are in active position, the corresponding pipes of the different groups will produce musical tones of the same pitch, for instance as c, or f, or aji. I have, however, illustrated conventionally and diagrammatically in Fig. 3, an arrangement in which the independence of voices, to which 1 have previously referred, may be obtained. This requires practically a duplication or multiplication of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 1, so far as concerns the employment of the note and octave-selecting controllers for the sounding devices, and the corresponding or Cir associated ducts in the tracker board. This is made practicable because ot the small number ot ducts necessary 'tor each unit, for, as was previously stated, itteen ducts only are necessary therefor. In addition to the groups ot' said ducts for the several units, but one supplemental duct in the tracker board is needed 'tor elliecting the control of the stops ol" all the groups ol sounding devices, and thus but sixty-one ducts in the tracker board are needed for the complete automatic control of tour complete units each having its groups of sounding devices; that is, li'tteen ducts tor each unit (or sixty tor 'tour units) plus one duct in one of the groups ot ducts for controlling all the various stops. Hence, where the tracker' board is provided with the necessary ducts :t'or say Ytour units. since the ducts are placed in practice closely together in alinelnent, a relatively narrow paper music sheet or selector may be utilized. ll'lhile I employ a plurality oi oiierating or controlling units, they may. it desired. all control the same banks or groups ot pipes or other sounding devices, so that each unit may control the operation et each group of pipes. As was understood lrom the previous description oit the unit shown in Figs. l and Q, a single group of twelve note ducts and twelve additional ducts (as at A2, B2, C12, &c.) in, or `torming one section ot, the tracker board. may, it desired, control the operation ot twelve complete groups comprising four hundred and thirty-two sounding devices: but. Ytor the sake ot simplicity, have shown in Fig. C13 only tour groups of pipes and four units. ln this ligure, the several groups oit draw switches are arranged apart from each other, contrary to the actual arrangement, merelyv to facilitate the showing of the electric circuits. in practic all the draw stops would pre'lerably be arranged as shown by Figs. 5 and (3, in order to have all the draw switches and their jacks 4:3 within the range of action oit a single pair of fans ll, l5, and within the range ot a single pneumatic fifi. The branch circuits 'tor controlling the operation ojt these groups of pipes are connected with the respective contacts on the draw switches of the different units.

rThe groups A3 D E F of sounding devices, for the sake of explanation, may be considered as pipes for producing the tones of the French horn, the l'lute, the clarinet, and the oboe, respectively, as previously described. Dach group consists of three sub-groups tuned in sequence, each sub-group comprising pipes 'for producing the twelve tones ot a chromatic scale, as explained in connection with F ig. l. The tracker board 70 is shown as having tour sections, or four groups T1, 72; 73, 7l: 75, 7G: and 77, 7S of ducts for controlling the note controllers and the additional controllers A', B', C. as already described, by which the sub-groulis ot each group ot' pipes may be sounded in sequence. I provide connections by which each group of said controllers in one unit will control each of the groups o't sounding devices. For each unit, l have shown conventioinilly tour groups of itour draw switches, each group being associated with one group ot ducts in, or forming one section of, the tracker board, and being so arranged and connected in multiple with the groups ot pipes that each group ol draw switches may control the pipes of each ot the 'tour groups fr D E and F, though in practice these groups ot draw switches may be arranged as shown in Figs. and T as hereinafter explained. l have not attempted on the drawings to illustrate all ot the complete circuits and the electrical com'iections, as it would be con'tusing and complicated and would serve no useful purpose. l have, however, illustrated these connections sutliciently for any organ builder or manu'tacturer ot musical instruments 'familiar with the art, to reproduce the invention, and l have used as far as possible the same reterence characters tor the same parts which were previously explained. l will explain one group of devices controlled from one section ot the tracker board, the others bc ing identical therewith. On the. admission of air to the ducts T1, by reason ot the registration therewith of perforations in the note sheet or selector, the note controllers are actuated. rllhe controllers A l5 C are operated by the admission ot air to ducts TQ. These controllers correspond to those at l2 and A B C in Fig. l. The circuits 13, 1S, Q0 and 2Q in Fig. l also correspond with those similarly numbered in Fig. l.

The four draw switches ot each unit are provided with jacks which may be set, as previously explained, and they are automatically moved into and out o't operation. The corresi'ionding contacts ot draw switch 30 ot each unit are all electrically connected in multiple by conductorsl inclosed in a cable SO with the electromagnetic valve controllers oi group lv ot' oboe pipes; and likewise the contacts of draw switches Q0. QS and 2T are connected by conductors in cables S1, SQ and S3 with the groups ot pipes E, D and A3. By this arrangement, on operating one of the four draw switches in any unit, any corresponding group of pipes may be caused to speak on the operation of the controllers of that particular unit. Thus, by moving to active position a diterent draw switch in each ot the units, the four groups of pipes may be caused to speak independently or' each other, under control of the different sections ot the tracker board. Of course the selector or note sheet will be divided transversely into as many sections as there are units or sections of the tracker board, and each section will be properly perforated for the control of the various instrumentalities constituting cach unit.

For controlling the operation of all oi the draw switches, I have shown the last section oi the trackei board as being provided with a supplemental duct 372 connccted vwith the pneumatic controller 37 for operating the switch bar 3G (these parts corresponding to those similarly numbered in Fig. 3) in consequence of which the pneumatic note controllers of the fourth unit (counting from the right to left) may control the controllers 42 for ope'ating the draw switches. To show how this may be accomplished, reference may be had again to Figs. (3 and 7, which show the group of note controllers l2 oil the last or 'fourth unit. The sixteen draw switches arranged in four groups, each having those imlicatcd at Q7, QS, 29 and 30, are all shown as ar ranged in a horizontal plane as in Fig. 5, and cach has the twelve acks which I pre-- viously described. These jacks are arrangealy in rows transversely of the draw switches as previously explained. Hence, when the switch bar 3G is moved to the left to paitially close circuits 13, 39, the operation of the several note pneumatics will cause the operation oi." the corresponding controlling pneumatics 42, and the associated drawswitch-operating bars tls, 45, all in the manner previously explained. Thus, from the single section ot' the tracker board, cont-iining the single supplemental duct 372, the draw switches of all four units are automatically controlled. Any suitable number of groups of sounding devices may be e1uployed in each unit; and the number oi units which may be controlled trom single trackerl board is limited only by the prac` ticable width of the note sheet or selector.

In Fig. S, to which I have already referred, I have shown the selector or note sheet as provided with longitudinal lines 90, to divide it into four sections or strips corresponding to the sections of the tracker board. In each section of thesheet are located the various perforations which I previously described for registration with the ducts in the corresponding sections oit the tracker board. `When the draw stops are to be operated manually by the operator or player, symbols may be located in the several sections of the note sheet for indieating to the operator which draw switches are to be operated, and when, so as to produce predetermined eifects. Even where the draw switches are controlled by the note sheet and the described controllers, the note sheet may be provided with the symbols as shown, so that, if the player wishes to add different voices, he can determine which of the other draw switches he can operate.

Of course it will be understood that any ordinary mechanism may be used for feeding the note sheet or selector over the tracker board to cause the various perforations therein to register with the proper ducts in the tracker board.

I have, for convenience in describing my invention, explained its use. in connection with an electro-pneumatic pipe organ, but of course it could be employed in connection with instruments in which the sounds are produced either by the use oit hammers or by electro-magnetically vibrated strings or bodies. For instance, I may with facility embody the invention in an instrument comprising a group of strings and hammers, groups of pipes to produce the effect of wind instruments, and groups of instruments to produce the effects of the violin and cello. The various mechanisms for operating these several groups are well known, and it would be superfluous to show them, since such mechanisms do not per 8c constitute any part of the present invention; and, while, as I have stated, the particular embodiment of invention shown includes controllers which are pneumatically operated, I should regard the controllers for the same purpose which were actuated or operated either mechanically or electrically as within the scope of my invention as hereinaiter claimed.

So far as I am aware, I am the iirst to control a group of sounding devices, timed to furnish the notes of a scale and divided into sub-groups of consecutive devices, by a single group oi selector-controlled note controllers equal in number to one sub-group, and additional controllers for determining and controlling which sub-group is to respond to the action of the primary controllers.

The group of sounding devices I have re* ferred to as consisting of sub-grou ps which are in sequence or consecutively tuned, and it will be understood that each sub-group may consist of one or more octaves. As shown, each sub-group of sounding devices consists of twelve which are timed chro` matically, but I should not consider it a departure from my invention if each subgroup of the entire group comprised more or less than twelve sounding devices. In stating that the sub-groups are tuned in se.- quence, I mean that they are preferably all of the same voice, and, when taken as an entire group, comprise a chromatic scale of as many octaves as may be desired.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of making and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is:

1. An automatic musical instrument, com- Il (l pris-ing a plurality ot' sounding devices tuned to furnish the notes ot a scale and divided into sub-groups consisting,` of consecutive devices, a group ot selector-controlled note controllers equal in number to the lsounding devices ot one sub-group, and selector-controlled mechanism for selecting` said sull-groups for operation.

2. )in automatic musical instrlunentcomprising a plurality ot sounding devices tuned to Vlurnishy the notes ot a scale and divided into sub-groups consisting ot consecutive deiices, a lgroup ot selectolf-controlled note controllers equal in num'oer to the sounding devices ot each sub-group, and selector-crmtrolled controllers, one tor cach said sul)- group ot sounding devices, tor selecting` or conditioning said sub-groups 'tor operation in any predetermined order.

23. An automatic musical instrument, comprising' a plurality ot stuniding' devices tuned to turnish the notes ot a scale and divided into suh-gmups consisting ol' consecutive devices, a groiq) ot note-controllers equal in numlier to the sounding devices ot one suhgroup` controllers equal in numlier to said sidi-groups tor selecting' said sub-groups Ytor operation. and a tracker hoard having selector-controlled means tor energizing all o'l said controllers.

l. Atu autinnatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality ot sounding devices having a compass ot several octa ves and divided imo .sub-groups each having a compass ot one octave, a tracker hoard having connected therewith note controllers equal in number to the sounding devices ot a single octave, and selectia'-controlled mechanism tor causing said controllers to control the operation ot all ot said sounding devices.

An automatic musical instrument, comprising a tracker hoard, and note control- .lers equal in number to the notes ot an octave. in combination with a plurality of sounding devices tuned to furnish the notes ot a scale comprising a plurality ot octaves, anc selector-controlled mechanism hy which each'note controller may cause the operation otl the corresponding sounding device o'l' each ooctave imlepeudently ot' the like sounding devices ot the other octaves.

o. )in automatic musical instrument, comprising a tracker hoard having twelve, ducts and twelve associated pneumatic controllers, a plurality ot sounding devices tuned to turnish the notes ot a scale and divided into a pluralitv ot sah-groups` each consisting` ot consecutive devices Vfor one octave. and sel"i'tin-craitiollec mechanism comprising` additional ducts in the tracker hoard and associated pneumatic controllers,-one duet and its associated controller tor each sub-group ot sounding devices-for selecting' for operation hy said lirst-mentioned controllers the sub-groups ol" sounding devices in any predetermined order.

7. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality ot sounding devices tuned to furnish the notes ot a scale and divided into sub-groups consisting ot' consecutive devices, a set olf note controllers equal in number to the sounding devices ot a sul` `g'roup, a group ot controllers equal in number to said sub-groups, means operated h v said last-nientioned controllers` 't'or conditioning said sub-groups oit sounding devices for operation by said note controllers, and a tracker hoard having operative camnections to said note controllers and said second-mentioned controllers.

S. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a tracker hoard and a set ot twelve note controllers, a series o't' sounding devices tuned to turnish the notes ot a scale and divided into sub-groups ach consisting ot twelve sounding devices, and selector-controlled mechanism for operatively and selectively connecting the note controllers with each of the sub-groups ot' sounding devices. in consequence o'l which the entire numhcr o" sub-groups ot sounding devices may he con` trolled in operation hy the single set ot note controllers.

f). An automatic musical instrument. comprising a plurality o't' sounding devices tuned to furnish the notes ot a .scale and divided into sub-groups each having the compass ot one octave, a tracker hoard having` twelve ducts, one tor each tone ot the octave and selector-controlled. mechanism for conditioning `tor operation the sounding devices ot' each sub-group iiulcpeinlently ol the corresponding sounding devices ot the other groups, on registration with said ducts in said tracker hoard ot periorations in the selector or note sheet passing said hoard.

10. An automatic musical instrun'icnt, comprising a plurality o'l sounding devices having a compass o't' several cctavefs` and divided into sub-groups each having a conipass ot one octave, a tracker hoard having ducts equal in number to the tones ot an octave, and selector-controlled means hy which the opening ot any one ot said ducts will cause the speaking ot a ci'n'respijmi'ling sounding device in any one ot' said octaves without causing the speaking ot the sounding devices of the other octavos.

1l. An auton'iatic musical instrument. comprising` a pluralitv ot ditlicrently voiced main groups ot' sonmling devices. each main group comprising a plurality ot sounding devices tuned to 'turnisa the otes et a .scale and divided into sub-groups consisting oll consecutive devices. and selector-controlled mechanism tor causing` said groups and suhgroups to speak independently o't` each other, said mechanism comprising a pluralitv ot CIK groups of note controllers each group thereof being equal in number to the sounding devices of a single sub-group, and a plurality of additional controllers with each group of note controllers and equal in number to the sub-groups of a main group of sounding devices for selecting for operation the subgroups of the corresponding main groups of sounding devices.

12. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality or' main groups of sounding devices, each main group being tuned to furnish the notes of a scale and being divided into sub-groups consisting of consecutive devices, selectorcontrolled mechanism for selecting any one of the main groups for operation, selector-controlled mechanism for selecting for operation any sub-group of the main group thus selected, and note controllers equal in number to the sounding devices of a sub-group for selecting for speaking the individual sounding devices of the sub-groups thus selected.

13. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality of groups of sounding devices each having a compass of several octaves and divided into sub-groups each having a compass of one octave, a tracker board having a plurality of groups of selector-controlled note controllers, each group of note controllers being equal in number to the sounding devices of one octave, and selector-controlled controllers associated with each group of note controllers and equal in number of the subgroups of a group of sounding devices for selecting the sub-groups of sounding devices for operation.

14. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality of groups of sounding devices, a draw switch for each group, a single series of note controllers for the sounding devices of the several groups, and selector-controlled mechanism by which said note controllers may automatically control the operation of said draw switches.

15. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a group of sounding devices, a group of selector-controlled note controllers, a draw switch for said group of sounding devices, and selector-controlled mechanism by which one of said note controllers causes the operation of said draw switch.

1G. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a group of sounding devices, a group of selector-controlled note controllers, a draw switch for said group of sounding devices, and selector-controlled controllers for conditioning for operation by said firstmentioned note controllers the draw switch and the sounding devices in alternation.

17. An automatic musical instrumen@ comprising a plurality of sounding devices, a draw switch therefor, a tracker board having connected therewith a series of note controllers, and selector-controlled mechanism for selecting the draw switch and the sounding devices for operation by said note controllers.

18. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality of groups of sounding devices, a draw switch for each group, a group of selector-controlled note controllers, an additional selector-controlled controller, and mechanism controlled by said last-mentioned controller in consequence of which said note controllers may cause the selective automatic operation of said draw switches.

19. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality or' differently voiced groups of sounding devices, draw switches therefor, a tracker board having a plurality of groups of ducts andassociated note controllers ior causing the speaking of the sounding devices, said tracker board having an additional duct and associated mechanism whereby said draw switches may be selectively operated by the ducts and associated note controllers of one of the lirstmentioned groups of ducts.

20. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality of differently voiced groups of sounding devices each having a compass of several octaves and each divided into sub-groups having a compass of one octavo, draw switches for said groups, and a tracker board having a plurality of groups of ducts,-each group having twelve ducts plus a number of ducts equal to the number of octaves in one of said groups of sounding devices,-and mechanism associated therewith for selecting and conditioning said sub-groups of sounding devices for operation,.said tracker board also having a supplemental duct and mechanism associated therewith by which one of said groups of twelve ducts and associated mechanism may cause the automatic selective operation of said draw switches.

21. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a group of sounding devices having a compass oi several octaves and divided into sub-groups each having a compass of one octave, a draw switch for said group, and a tracker board having twelve ducts and note controllers, and additional ducts and controllers equal in number to said sub-group of sounding devices for causing the selective operation oi said sounding devices independently of each other, said tracker board having a supplemental duct and controller for causing the operation of said draw switch by one of said note controllers.

22. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a tracker board and note controllers for controlling the operation of a group of sounding devices, a draw switch for the sounding devices, mechanism by which said stop may be operatively controlled by one of the note controllers, and additional controlling mechanism, including aI duct in the tracker board, for controlling the operation of said draw switch by said note controller.

n automatic musical instrument, comprising a group of sounding devices tuned to furnish the notes of a scale and divided into sub-groups ot consecutive devices, a set of note-controllers equal in number to the sounding devices of one sub-group for controlling` the individual sounding devices oi' any sub-group, controllers equal in number to the total number of sub-groups for selecting for operation any one of the sub-groups, a tracker board connected With all said controllers, and a selector or note sheet having a series of perforations ior controlling the first-mentioned controllers and a second series of perforations for controlling said second-mentioned controllers.

2%. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a plurality of groups of sounding devices, each tuned to furnish the notes of a` scale and divided into sub-groups of consecutive devices, a set of note controllers equal in number to the sounding` devices of one sub-group for controlling the individual sounding devices of any group, additional controllers equal in number to the total number of sub-groups ior selecting for operation any one of the sub-groups, a supplemental controller for controlling the selection oi the said groups oit sounding devices or operation, and a selector having a series of per't'orations for controlling the note controllers, a series oi" per'torations for controlling the additional or second-mentioned controllers, and a series of perforations for controlling the supplemental or third-mentioned controller.

25. An automatic musical instrument, comprising a group of sounding devices, tuned to furnish the notes of a scale and divided into sub-groups of consecutive devices7 a selector or note sheet having a series of perforations ior selecting for operation any subgroup and having a series of perforations for selecting for operation individual sounding devices of the sub-group thus selected, a trac-lier board, controllers connected therewith equal in number to said sub-groups and controlled by said selector for s-lectively conditioning for operation any one ot' said sub-groups and note-controllers equal in number to the sounding devices of a subgroup also connected to said tracker board.

In testimony whereof have aitixed my signature.

ERNEST M. SKNNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

